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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, will lead a 20-member business delegation to Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia from Sunday (May 31) to June 7. Afterwards, he will travel to Stockholm, Sweden and London, the United Kingdom for a duty visit.
During his visit, Mr Tsang will meet a number of business and political leaders to exchange views on the global economic crisis and promote the opportunities that are available in Hong Kong to international investors.
Members of the delegation come from different sectors in Hong Kong including business, finance, banking, tourism, legal and information technology. Among them are the Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), Mr Ronald Arculli; the Deputy Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Mr Alan Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mr Stanley Hui; and the President of Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Wong Kwai Huen.
Mr Tsang will leave late on Saturday (May 30) for Russia where he will attend a range of meetings with senior government officials and private sector leaders concerned with business, finance and banking. He will also be a speaker at luncheons organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to promote Hong Kong as Russia's trading capital in Asia.
In Moscow on Monday (June 1), Mr Tsang will meet the Chief Economist of HSBC Russia, Mr Alexander Morozov, in the morning and the President of the Interros, Mr Vladimir Potanin, in the afternoon. He will also attend meetings with the Chairman of Central Bank of Russia, Mr Sergei Ignatiev; the Head of Federal Service for the Financial Markets of Russia, Mr Vladimir Milovidov; and the Head of Federal Service for Insurance Supervision of Russia, Mr Aleksandr Koval.
Mr Tsang will address a conference titled "Hong Kong: The Ideal Fund-Raising Centre in Asia" organised by HKTDC and HKEx after meeting the President of Moscow International Currency and Stock Exchange, Mr Konstantin N. Korischenko, on Tuesday (June 2). He will also meet the President and Chairman of Board of VTB, Mr Andrei Kostin, before attending a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).
Mr Tsang will officiate at the opening of Photo Exhibition "Hong Kong – A Cultural Kaleidoscope" organised by HKTB and meet the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Alexei Kudrin, before leaving for St Petersburg on June 3.
During his stay in St Petersburg, Mr Tsang will attend St Petersburg International Economic Forum from June 4 to 6 and speak at a session on "International Financial Centres: Experience and Perspectives" on the last day of the forum.
On the morning of June 4, Mr Tsang will meet senior government officials of St. Petersburg City and the Managing Director of OOCL (Russia), Mr Nick Bykov.
While in St. Petersburg, he will also meet the Chairman of Sistema, Mr Vladimir Evtushenkov, and senior representatives of Deutsche Bank on June 5 and 6 respectively.
Mr Tsang will travel to Stockholm, Sweden, on June 7 to address a reception to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Royal Sweden Hong Kong Society.
On June 8, Mr Tsang will meet the Minister of Finance, Mr Anders Borg; the State Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Financial Markets Mats Odell, Mr Urban Karlstr?m; the Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Energy, Mrs Maud Olofsson; and representatives of Central Bank of Sweden.
During his stay in Stockholm, Mr Tsang will deliver a speech at the 10th Plenary Session of the EU-Hong Kong and Hong Kong-EU Business Co-operation Committees and attend their welcome dinner. He will also brief the media in Sweden on the outlook of Hong Kong.
On his arrival in London on June 9, Mr Tsang will meet the Governor of Bank of England, Mr Melvyn King, and join the Hong Kong Society Gala Dinner.
On June 10, Mr Tsang will deliver a keynote speech at a business seminar titled "Hong Kong and China: A Way Out From The Storm" co-organised by HKTDC and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. He will also hold meetings with the Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, Lord Adair Turner, and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, HM Treasury, Mr Stephen Timms.
Mr Tsang will address a reception to launch the Hong Kong's Food & Wine Year hosted by HKTB before leaving London. He will arrive back to Hong Kong on June 11.
During Mr Tsang's absence, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, will act as the Financial Secretary between May 31 and June 10 while the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, will act on June 11.
Ends/Thursday, May 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:01
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